FAQs: We’re here to answer all of your questions
BNE offers a wide selection of emergency medical services to Brisbane’s Northside patients and GPs. Operating 24 hour, 7 days a week, our clinic has a full suite of facilities to ensure patients receive prompt and careful treatment. For more information on the full extent of our services, please see the below frequently asked question or call our friendly staff today for any further enquiries.
Getting there
BNE sees all patients from children to adults and specialises in emergency medicine and care. We treat all conditions from pains, coughs, wounds to general sickness. No matter what time of the day or night, if you’re concerned about your health or the health of someone in your care – come and see us.
BNE does not treat the following conditions: • Major Multi trauma • Obstetrics • Psychiatry • DVA (Department of Veteran’s Affairs) • Workers Compensation (general ongoing workcover treatment)
Yes, BNE is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
Yes, simply ask them to take you to BNE.
No, you do not need a referral. You can present yourself or come recommended by your GP, via a car or ambulance. Our treatment notes will be sent to your GP on your discharge.
Wait times and care
Most people are seen within minutes, if not immediately. There are peak times, particularly weekends when the time frame may be slightly longer but on average most patients are seen within 10 minutes. At a public hospital, you may be waiting hours.
In most cases you will be treated by an Emergency Medicine Physician. Most of our Consultants have undertaken many years of speciality training in Emergency Medicine and are experts in their field. Our Doctors are supported by professional and experienced nursing staff.
No, however, we do our best to admit you to HSN and 90% of our patients are admitted into HSNPH. At BNE, our goal is to provide you with the best possible medical outcome available to you at the time. Bed availability, your Specialist, your condition and wishes, are all taken into consideration when the decision is made to admit you to hospital.
Usually 10 minutes, during peak times or weekends this time frame might be longer, but this is the average wait time for patients to be seen.
It depends entirely on the severity of the patient's condition, however, visits with doctors tend to be between 10 to 30 minutes long.
Services
Yes. We have access to a full range of radiology and pathology services 24/7.
Cost
Yes, you do have to pay to come to BNE. We are a private fee-for-service emergency centre and a separate business to Holy Spirit Northside Hospital. We are also not connected to the public Prince Charles Hospital. You will not pay in excess of $350 in gap fees excluding pathology and x-ray. Should you require X-ray and Pathology these services will be billed to you separately from our providers.
Private Health
No you do not need private health insurance to come to BNE.
No, it will not. Private Health Insurance generally covers costs associated with in-patient hospital care only. BNE is considered an out-patient facility and as such receives no health fund rebate. Even if you are admitted from our emergency care to the hospital, there is no private insurance rebate for your emergency care.
No. Medical rebate expenses can only be claimed on Medicare when they are given through Public hospitals and health practitioners.
About Private Hospitals
Most people come to BNE for three reasons:
1. They are seen within minutes not hours – this relieves pain, complications and stress
2. They are seen by the most senior emergency care professional first – in public systems typically you are seen by less experienced staff and your case becomes elevated as required.
3. They don’t want to clog the public health system – they want to make room for real emergencies. In the last two years, the Prince Charles Emergency Department has grown from 12,000 to 36,000 patients, and expect to cater for up to 50,000 patients in the next two years. Given their emergency is not a regular expense, our patients typically would prefer to outlay the money so that those who can not afford to pay the BNE way, have better access in the public system.
1. They are seen within minutes not hours – this relieves pain, complications and stress
2. They are seen by the most senior emergency care professional first – in public systems typically you are seen by less experienced staff and your case becomes elevated as required.
3. They don’t want to clog the public health system – they want to make room for real emergencies. In the last two years, the Prince Charles Emergency Department has grown from 12,000 to 36,000 patients, and expect to cater for up to 50,000 patients in the next two years. Given their emergency is not a regular expense, our patients typically would prefer to outlay the money so that those who can not afford to pay the BNE way, have better access in the public system.
A private hospital is a hospital privately funded through payment for services by patients themselves or insurers. Private hospital fees are no covered by Medicare.
Private hospital cover is included as part of some types of private health insurance cover. Generally, private health insurance is divided into hospital, general treatment, and ambulance cover. It depends on your nominated policy as to which of these is included.
Yes. You may choose to go to a private hospital and be treated as a private health patient, however this means you will not be able to claim your expenses on Medicare.
General
If you are seriously hurt or sick and in need of urgent medical attention, you should attend an emergency clinic for fast treatment.
Upon arrival at BNE you will see the triage nurse who will ask for your personal/family and contact details, then determine the priority of your care. Within a timeframe of usually less than 10 minutes, you will be assessed by an emergency doctor who will prescribe treatment.
Yes, an emergency clinic may turn away patients if they believe there is no serious or life-threatening urgency to their condition.
